Bicycle or tricycle.



PATENTED PEBQzl, 1905.

T. ASHBURN.

BICYCLE 0R TMGYGLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20,`1903.

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www S04/Wea www No. 783,236. PATBNTED FEB. 21, 1905. T. ASHBURN.

BICYCLE 0R TRICYCLE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 20, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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llNrTnn STATES Patented February 21, 1905.

THOMAS ASHBURN, OE LEEDS, ENGLAND.

BloYcLE on TRICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,236, dated February 21, 1905.

Application fried November zo, 1903. serial No. 181,973.

To (LZZ whom, it mrm/ "on/cern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS AsHBURN, rnechanical engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing' at 14 Chad street. New Town, Leeds, in the county of York, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles or Tricycles, of which the following is a specification.

l\/I y invention refers to a bicycle or tricycle, and comprises the improved features hereinafter described and claimed whereby in a sim- 'ple and effecti ve manner a spring-fork is provided for lessening or preventing joltings and vibrations usually felt consequent upon riding. The said spring-fork is in the application of the invention to the steering-wheel built up in combination with the steering mechanism, this being the principal application of the invention.

By the aidof the accompanying sheets of drawings the improvements will be hereinafter made clear, the'same being' illustrated applied to an ordinary pattern of cycle or bicycle, and particularly to the fork of the front wheel and in conjunction with the steering mechanism.

Figure 1 illustrates a vertlcal section through the steering-head. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a bicycle with the front springfork. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a bicycle, showing a front and back spring-fork.

With reference to Fig. 1, which is a vertical section through the steering-head of a bicycle, standing up rigidly from the crown of the fork j is a tubular stem f2, which when the fork is attached to the frame proper of the cycle loosely fits within a socket c in the said frame and is adapted to resiliently slide up and down therein or telescope. The said socket c is a tube open at both ends c2 c3, and in it at a suitable point a rigid transverse abutment CZ is provided, this abutment being high up in the socket out of reach of the upper end of the tubular stern j'. A rigidly-fitted central rod e, approximately the full length of the socket c, rises from the crown of the fork j' within the tubular stem 7'2 and passes freely through a central hole Z3 in the abutment Z and has applied to it at its upper end e2 aI screw-cap f, which lits the upper end of the socket c with just a circumferential clearance. The hole d3 may be an angular one, the rod a being angular in cross-section to fit it. Between the inner end f2 of the screwlcapf and the top side of the abutment (Z is located a coiled spring g in compression, and between the under side of the said abutment and the crown of the fork or an extension of the crown of the fork is located another and more powerful coiled spring 2f, also preferably in a state of compression, this last-mentioned spring lying in part within thetubular stem f2, and both springs, stem f2, rod e, and cap f being concealed in the socket o. The two springs g and t can have their state of compression' regulated by the turning of the screw-cap f at the end of the central rod, the one spring acting against the other between the abutments and the up and down working tubular stemy'2 and rod e, it being understood that such up and down working is caused by the wheel, which is carried in the ordinary manner within the fork y', passing over uneven roads and that the stronger spring z5 bears the weight of the rider from the depression of the socket c and transfers it resiliently to the fork j, and so to the wheel carried by the Said fork.

The socket o aforesaid is by ball-bearings y y2 applied within the tubular steering-socket a of the frame proper of the bicycle to turn, the said socket (o being stationary with the bicycle-frame. The stem 'if of the handlebar u is clamped adjustably within the upper end of the tubular stem c by the ordinary split lug w, provided for the purpose, this lug also forming part of the ball-race y. Longitudinally the socket c is immovable from the steering-socket a; but it can turn or rotate independent of the said 'socket ci, it constituting iin reality a tubular steering-post by which the fork is turned from the handle-bar.

In action if the handle-bar u is turned it, by being clamped to the socket c, turns or rotates the said socket within the stationary steering-socket a and as a consequence turns or rotates the rod e and stem je, to which is connected the fork j. i

1f the wheel of the fork 7' traverses an uneven surface, the stem f2 telescopes into the Too socket c against the action of the spring z5, which cushions the said telescoping and absorbs the vibration which would otherwise be imparted to' the steering-socket a.

The features hereinbefore described are shown applied to a bicycle-frame by the diagrams Figs. 2 and 3, Fig. 2 showing a bicycle with a spring front fork only, and Fig. 3 a bicycle with front and-back forks made springforks. In these iigures the same letters of reference as on Fig. 1 are used to represent similar parts; but in addition to the features aforesaid a downwardly-extending curved member 0, outlining the shape of the front wheel s, is rigidly carried at 02 upon the socket c, this member providing at its lower end 03 connection for two jointed or hinged stays /t L, (the one `stay is behind the other, one4 each side the wheel 8,) these stays coupling the said member 0 with the extremities of the branchesvz' t' of the fork j, the said coupling being by a swinging' joint in each case. The ends of the spindle s2 of the wheel s are attached to the stays /t t. Wvhen the wheel s Apasses over any uneven surface, the said wheel in moving up telescopes the -stem f2, the forli and wheel swinging up bodily from the joint o3 of the part 0.

From Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen how the steering-socket t is carried in the ordinary way from the frame proper, a2, of the bicycle.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination, an inner sleeve forming a socket, a handle-bar provided with a hollow7 stem extending in said sleeve, means for adjustably clamping the stein to the sleeve, a stationary outer sleeve forming a socket surrounding said inner sleeve and having a ballrace at each end, bearing-balls supported by said clamping means and ball-races, a fork provided with a hollow stem projecting and telescoping within said inner sleeve, a rigid HBSSGS.

abutment secured within said inner sleeve, a rigid rod secured at its lower end to said fork and extending upwardly through the stem of the fork, abutment and inner sleeve, a compression-spring surrounding said rod and arranged within the inner sleeve above the abutment, a compression-springsurrounding said rod and arranged within the stem of the fork, and means mounted upon the upper end of the rod for adjusting the tension of said springs, substantially as described.

2. In combination, an inner sleeve forming a socket, a handle-bar provided with a hollow sternextending in said sleeve, means for adjustably clamping the stem to the sleeve, a stationary outer sleeve forming a socket surrounding said inner sleeve and carrying' a ballrace at each end, bearing-balls supported by said clamping means and ball-races, a fork provided with a hollow stem projecting and telescoping within said inner sleeve, a rigid abutment secured within said inner sleeve, a rigid rodsecured at its lower end to said fork and extending upwardly through the stem of the fork, abutment and inner sleeve, a compression-spring surrounding said rod and arranged within the inner sleeve above the abutment, a compression-spring surrounding said rod and arranged within the stem of the fork, means mounted upon the Lipper end of the rod for adj usting the tension of the springs,a downwardly-curved member connected at its upper end to the stationary sleeve, and a pair of hinged stays connected -to the ends of the wheel-spindle and coupling the'lower ends of the fork to the lower end of the member, substantiallyyas described.m

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- THOMAS ASHBURN. Vitnesses:

CHAs. GILLIARD, ALFRED STANLEY HoUGH'roN. 

